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King, who championed nonviolent social change and racial and economic equality, was fatally shot on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn., on April 4, 1968. The motel is now the site of the National Civil Rights Museum.

On Wednesday, King’s death was being observed around the country.

In Atlanta, Bernice King and her aunt, Christine King Farris, laid a wreath at the grave site of slain civil rights leader as part of a remembrance by Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he preached from 1960 until his death. A wreath was also laid by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King helped create in 1957.

A 3,700-foot section of a downtown Memphis street was renamed Wednesday in honor of King. Linden Avenue was on the route for a March 28, 1968, civil rights march led by King.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was with King at the time of the slaying, said he hopes bloodshed will cease.

Former Memphis City Councilman Berlin Boyd, who sponsored the renaming, said the two-hour ceremony means the city is moving on.

“It symbolizes the city of Memphis is burying the guilt of Dr. King’s assassination and we’re moving forward with the progression and the resurrection of hope of change, and a new perspective on Memphis’s outlook,” he said.

In Washington, a candlelight vigil was planned at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, which opened earlier this year. The public ceremony was to include Harry Johnson, president of the foundation that built the memorial, and Arun Manilal Gandhi, a grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.

Bernice King said the King Center will use its resources to promote community awareness, action and mobilization.

She said the King Center will work with the federal CDC to build its capacity to take a leadership role on youth violence prevention and key health problems affecting minorities and poor communities.

Among the health issues the partnership will address are the prevention of HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer prevention, environmental health issues, birth defects and developmental disabilities such as sickle cell anemia.

The partnership will also focus on the nonviolent conflict resolution that King championed during his lifetime. The King Center plans to sponsor forums, health fairs and other initiatives around these issues.

Martin Luther King III, who recently stepped down as head of The King Center and launched the Institute for Social Justice and Human Rights, held a day-long series of workshops with leaders in government, civil rights, entertainment, medicine and education at The Carter Center on Wednesday.

He said the program is meant to transform what has traditionally been a day of mourning into a day of momentum against youth violence. King’s institute and the CDC-funded Urban Networks to Increase Thriving Youth are launching a two-year initiative aimed at youth violence prevention.

Readers' Comments (5)

So much of modern American life was reshaped by Dr. King's efforts. It's rare to have a public figure so single-mindedly dedicated to a cause for positive change. Even more rare is that such profound change came about during his lifetime and in the few shrot decades that followed. It really was a miraculous acheivement for any human being.

Laws were changed, educational opportunities advanced, public policy was effected- and an entire segment of America's population found a voice that allowed them to be heard. It's been said that "a rising tide raises all ships." I'd like to think that Martin's cause helped not only his followers, but all of America, as newly-empowered American citizens began to excercize their potential, and contrbute to the American fabric in new ways.

As a young kid growing up in the 60's I remember seeing him on TV, and wondering why he was leading these groups of people down the streets of Selma, and speaking before throngs on the National Mall. Now, I'm in my 50's, and realize that the sacrifices he made, the vigor with which he pursued his cause, and the persuasive oratory he lent to his cause have made my life better.

I found 'my voice' in music about the same time I heard Dr King's voice for the first time. His speeches gave my parents the courage to incite in me a conviction that I could accomplish anything in this country, no matter how difficult- if I wanted it enough. Thanks to their encouragement, and Dr. King's inspiration, I lived out that "dream"... and last year, on May 7th, I pulled my cello from its case, tightened my bow... and walked onto the stage of Carnegie Hall in NYC.

Martin's "dream" became my reality. I make a good living sowing sounds of concord with people of all races, united in a common goal. I have a good home, a wife of real substance who loves me unconditionally, and a loving extended family that looks like a meeting of the United Nations. And those around me are truly some of the best people a person could want in his life.